Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 400 Dark Tide
The queen's joy at giving birth did not last long.

It was just in May when Lai Dacai hurried back to the capital, and before the Dragon Boat Festival was over, and all the preparations for Lai Shangrong's wedding came, the news of Concubine Zhen's death came.

Ordinarily, Concubine Zhen was just the concubine of the Supreme Emperor and would not enjoy too high a standard, but Concubine Zhen was the emperor's biological mother after all.

Emperor Zhenglong still resisted all opinions.

All the imperial edicts and others were assigned to the imperial court and followed the imperial guards' orders according to the nobility system.

He also ordered the world: no family with a noble can hold banquets and music for one year, and common people can't get married within three months.

This imperial edict made Lai Da, who had just returned to Beijing, suddenly have no idea.

The emperor set a year of national filial piety, so it was naturally impossible for Lai Shangrong to marry Lin Daiyu and welcome the spring as planned.

Fortunately, the Lai family has no royalties and does not need to endure the hard work of attending court every day.

In the Rongguo Mansion next door, Jia Mu, Mrs. Xing and Mrs. Wang all had official orders and had to go to court every day to attend sacrifices.

Concubine Zhen's coffin was kept in the inner palace for 21 days before the spirit was invited to enter the tomb.It takes about ten days to travel from the capital to this mausoleum. When the spirit comes here, it has to stay there for several days before entering the underground palace, so it has a full moon view.

More than a month of torment has also made Jia Mu's body overwhelmed, making it worse.

Although those who hold high positions and usually enjoy privileges, their national filial piety is more stringent than that of ordinary people, and they deserve it.

But this time it was not in accordance with etiquette, because the emperor acted arbitrarily.

Although the pampered aristocrats were helpless, they could not help but complain endlessly.

And Queen Tian, ​​who had just given birth to a prince, also had some hidden worries that were not easy to detect.

However, unlike those noble courtiers, she was not worried about the fatigue of more than a month, but worried that Emperor Zhenglong had set a precedent and set a bad example for future generations.

There are no two days in the sky, and there are no two kings in the country, and it is the same in the harem.

Emperor Zhenglong went beyond the rules of etiquette and forced the funeral of his biological mother to the Queen Mother's standards, which was undoubtedly a challenge to the Queen Mother's authority.

The ancients paid great attention to the posthumous title after death and the funeral ceremony.

In their view, death in this world is also life in the next world, so the funeral rites after death are also the status of the afterlife. How can the Queen Mother not argue with reason?

However, Emperor Zhenglong ignored the Empress Dowager's arguments and even her pleas.

Such a royal secret was an unknown secret for a foreign minister like Lai Shangrong, but Queen Tian watched it with cold eyes and experienced it personally.

It was inevitable that such a thought would pop up... It is better for the son to be his own.

In the past, although Prince Jing was not her biological child, she still held great righteousness as her legitimate mother and queen.

But now, Emperor Zhenglong's actions obviously opened a bad door for his successors.

If Prince Jing succeeds to the throne and follows suit, it will probably be the best outcome.

At that time, Prince Jing would only need to perform the actions of Emperor Zhenglong to silence the civil and military officials of the court and her. How could she not worry?

She was always familiar with Emperor Zhenglong's character, and she even suspected that this was just the first step. She was afraid that once the Emperor and the Empress Dowager passed away, Emperor Zhenglong would have to rectify the name of his biological mother and give her a title such as the Empress Dowager.

"Empress! Empress! Uncle Guo has arrived!"

Just as I was thinking about these troublesome things, I heard a call coming from my ears.

"Xuan!"

When Tian Chang came in and bowed, Queen Tian retreated and said, "What do you think of the ceremony of the death of the concubine?"

"Your Majesty Renxiao..."

"Why are you still saying such nonsense to me?" Queen Tian immediately interrupted before Tian Chang could finish.

"My Majesty, you are aware that your Majesty's behavior is like that of a blind king. He keeps complaining, but also sets a bad start for future generations. If future generations follow suit, everyone will have a biological mother and a distant sibling mother, and the distinction between legitimate concubines and concubines will disappear. If you save, the collapse of rituals and music will not be far away!"

The head has been opened, the funeral has been done, and there is no possibility of turning back, Tian Chang is naturally very clear.

My sister, the queen, suddenly announced that she had entered the palace, and as soon as she arrived, she asked about the funeral arrangements, which obviously meant something.

Originally, Emperor Zhenglong only had one son, Prince Jing, but now the queen also gave birth to Prince Qi. In addition, this time the emperor acted arbitrarily for his biological mother. How could it not be thought-provoking?Therefore, he saw Queen Tian's intention and immediately named the difference between concubines and concubines.

"Yes! Once the righteousness of our concubines can be overthrown, then the emperor..."

"My Majesty knew that she had made mistakes every step of the way. Her Majesty failed to dissuade the Emperor at that time. Now she has made a bad start, but she can no longer allow the situation to continue. Prince Jing is about to reach adulthood and has always been the Emperor's only son. Even after all these years, If you don’t do anything, I’m afraid there are many people attached to you! Now the emperor’s move is probably what those people are happy to see.”

This time in the court, there was not much opposition. On the one hand, it was because everyone did not want to touch the emperor's eyebrows; The distinction between concubines and concubines is diluted.

"Although the emperor loves King Qi very much, he is young after all. Colorful clothes are good enough to entertain relatives, but it is still too early to show his prominence. Besides, Prince Jing is about to come of age. You may not be able to reach adulthood!”

"Although Your Highness is young, I must make plans for His Highness King Qi!"

"If you don't want to plan for the emperor, why should I go to the trouble of calling you into the palace as soon as you come back?"

"Your Majesty is wise! When the Emperor and Prince Yizhong fought for the heir apparent, because of their big goals, it was inevitable that many affairs would be handed over to our family, and we have accumulated a lot of connections over the years.

Although, the emperor has only had Prince Jing for so many years, and there are many people who made bets in advance, but in the end, it is just the situation, we just need to plan slowly..."

"Alas!" Empress Tian sighed: "I'm afraid you don't know that last year, when you offered medicinal wine and I became pregnant with the emperor's son, the emperor thought that the old illness was gone, so he could not help but work too hard day and night. This time, the death of the concubine was inevitable. Due to the exhaustion of running around, my body is no longer what it used to be, so I’m afraid we don’t have much time to plan carefully.”

The emperor's health is not as good as before. Although his life may not be in danger, once the news is heard in the court, the establishment of the East Palace will have to be put on the agenda.

Compared with the newly born King Qi, the soon-to-adult King Jing undoubtedly took the initiative.

Tian Chang pondered for a long time, then suddenly knelt down on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "If your mother makes up her mind, I have a plan!"

"The parents who love their children have far-reaching plans. How can I still act like a rat and a rat in both directions?"

Tian Chang's face was stern, and he lowered his voice and said: "Return to your mother! These years, the emperor has only one son, King Jing, which is an advantage and a weakness. Once King Jing is in danger, His Highness Prince Qi is the only choice for the emperor... "

Queen Tian looked horrified, with faintly exposed veins on her forehead.

The businessman said hoarsely: "You...you know what a crime it is to murder the prince!"

"Your Majesty... It's not you who die, but I live to seize the heirloom. It's not a pity to do great things, Your Majesty!"

After a pause, he continued: "If Prince Yoshitaka hadn't been ruthless enough and replaced the medicine that would destroy his descendants with a deadly poison, how could he have ended up in such a situation?"

Indeed, back then, Prince Yizhong just kept a line and wanted to start with his heirs. Once Emperor Zhenglong couldn't bear children, there would be no prerequisite for succession.

Although Emperor Zhenglong had been poisoned, Prince Yi Zhong did not expect that the concubine would have Prince Jing in his belly.

Seeing that the queen was still hesitating, Tian tasted: "Back then the Supreme Emperor still had the choice of Prince Zhongshun, and Prince Yizhong dared to act. Now the emperor has no one else to choose except King Qi. Why are you still hesitating?"

"This..." Queen Tian hesitated: "The Emperor has always been thoughtful, even if there is no other choice, he will inevitably doubt me..."

"The Tian family and the empress are both prosperous, so how can they harm the empress?"

Tian Chang kowtowed and said: "Qining left the capital after the year, and the ministers invited him to have a casual meal. This time he went south with the order to thoroughly investigate the illegal affairs of the Zhen family.

Back then, I was running errands for the emperor, and my family also had some arrangements there. Now, the three girls of the Zhen family have married into the Prince of Beijing, and the Prince of Beijing has been at odds with the emperor. If something happens to the Zhen family, and the person who does it comes from the Prince of Beijing, even if The emperor is suspicious, and King Beijing is also the first to bear the brunt..."

Queen Tian clenched her fingers tightly and said in a trembling voice: "You... please step aside first and let me think about it..."

Tian Chang knelt on the ground and said at the top of his lungs: "Empress! This opportunity cannot be missed!"

Queen Tian shouted: "Get out!"

Tian Chang had no choice but to get up slowly, and as soon as he turned around and was about to leave, he heard Empress Tian muffled: "First, in the capital, let us tell some good stories about the love between the King of Beijing and his concubine!"

Tian Chang couldn't help being happy immediately and hurriedly bowed and said: "Okay! Okay! Weichen will go back and make arrangements now!"

"Don't let the news leak out!" Queen Tian warned in a low voice.

Tian Chang replied with a trembling voice: "Raising soldiers for a thousand days and using them for a while. This matter is related to the life and death of the family. We should be careful. Please rest assured, the empress, as long as we can help His Highness King Qi ascend to Dabao, the dead soldiers raised in the family will not be affected this time." Even if you use them all, it’s worth it!”

When you're done, turn around and leave.

Seeing Tian Chang leave Fengzao Palace, Queen Tian collapsed to the ground as if she had lost all strength.

…………

(End of this chapter)